Joseph St. Leger d'Happart was a French immigrant and naturalized citizen of the United States engaged in mercantile imports to the United States from Suriname (Dutch Guiana) and France. D'Happart was imprisoned for debts to a French business partner from 1807 to 1808. The collection includes letters from Thomas Jefferson, Albert Gallatin and James Madison. This collection of around 2,000 items documents d'Happart's personal and business life, including his estrangement and divorce from his wife, and his mercantile ventures. Much of the collection is in English, but some family and business correspondence is in French, and many documents related to his travels to Suriname are in Dutch.

Preferred Citation

Biography

Joseph St. Leger d'Happart spent eighteen months in a French prison before immigrating to the United States. D'Happart claimed to have served Louis XVI, but the voracity of this claim is dubious. He arrived in Boston early in 1796 and obtained United States citizenship. D'Happart became a clerk in 1797, but he soon quarreled with his employers. D'Happart married Elizabeth Thompson, daughter of Brigadier General William Thompson (c.1725 to 1781) of New Castle, Delaware. According to materials in the collection, the couple had at least three children, including an oldest son and a daughter. D'Happart and his wife lived in New Castle for a short time, and subsequently resided throughout Pennsylvania. D'Happart made his living in the mercantile business, and was involved in a variety of colorful international business ventures. Between 1798 and 1801, d'Happart made three trips to the Dutch colony of Suriname for the William & Read Co. and the Rocheteau firm.

From 1804 to 1805, d'Happart made an extended trip to France during which he arranged for the import of French goods which d'Happart, Joseph Thebeaud and Simon Chaudron & Co. sold in the United States. While in France, d'Happart met L. F. Babin, a Frenchman who assisted d'Happart in his lawsuit against the French government for the return of d'Happart's family property, which had been confiscated during the Revolution. D'Happart gave Babin power of attorney to complete the return of his property. D'Happart returned to the United States aboard his ship the
Brig Betsy, of which L. F. Babin owned a quarter share. The ship was boarded by the British and taken to Newfoundland where all but a few items hidden by d'Happart were confiscated. In 1806, Babin accused d'Happart of owing him money. D'Happart was arrested in Pittsburgh in September of 1807, and taken to a Philadelphia debtor's prison to await trial. According to d'Happart's deposition, Babin sold d'Happart's French properties and fled France with the money. Furthermore, d'Happart claimed that he could account for all of the goods for which Babin claimed to be owed. The facts of this story remain unclear.

After his release from prison in June of 1808, d'Happart and his family lived in Philadelphia until October. They later moved to Chambersburg in early November, and settled at Somerset a month later. D'Happart and his wife separated in 1812, and Elizabeth was granted a divorce by the governor of Pennsylvania in 1815.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection of around 2,000 items documents d'Happart's personal and professional life. The majority of the collection is in English, but personal and some business correspondence are in French, and many documents related to his business in Suriname are in Dutch. The collection contains correspondence, ledgers, depositions, bound print materials, transcription books, note cards, and travel papers.

D'Happart's various residences are documented with personal and local business records, correspondence, and financial documents. D'Happart's personal papers consist of family correspondence, papers, and documents relating to his imprisonment, and his divorce. The Thompson family papers document the family of d'Happart's wife, Elizabeth Thompson. D'Happart's family correspondence includes letters from d'Happart's wife, Elizabeth, his sister Maria Read, and his niece, Henriette de St. Leger. D'Happart's personal papers also include documents and correspondence related to his estrangement and divorce from his wife, which are quite detailed about the acrimonious split.

D'Happart's failed French business ventures are documented, as well as his subsequent arrest in Pittsburgh and imprisonment in Philadelphia from 1807 to 1808 on a debtor's warrant issued by his French business partner, C. F. Babin, related to a ship they co-owned, the
Brig Betsy. Business correspondence unrelated to his French partnerships is also present, including letters from Albert Gallatin and Thomas Jefferson concerning Indian Affairs and the Treasury, respectively.

A number of bound transcription books are also represented, containing handwritten copies of correspondence to and from d'Happart in English and French. These books seem to be the work of a nineteenth century family member. These transcription books are not comprehensive, and include family correspondence not contained in their original form elsewhere in this collection.

The collection also contains a number of published materials that were probably collected by d'Happart in the United States and France. These materials include literary magazines published in the United States in English and French, and two longer French language works. Finally, the collection includes a set of calendar cards created by library staff or a researcher of a portion of the d'Happart papers.

Revision Description

Finding aid revised by Nicole Mader to include an oversized box with multiple folders. These were added to the collection and then the numbering and ordering was adjusted to reflect the additions.
Controlled access terms revised (dar) November 2009

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright

No copyright restrictions.

Custodial History

This collection was located in the Darlington Memorial Library in the University’s Cathedral of Learning until 2007 when it was moved to the ULS Archives Service Center for processing, storage, preservation and service. However, it remains in the custodianship of the ULS Special Collections Department.

Previous Citation

Collection Inventory

Series I. Residences in Pennsylvania, 1794-1815

Scope and Content Notes

D'Happart first moved to the United States in 1796 as a young man. D'Happart lived in a number of towns throughout Pennsylvania, and seems to have lived in each location for only a few years. His various residences are documented with personal and local business records, correspondence, and financial documents. This series contains letters between d'Happart and his wife Elizabeth during his periods abroad, and letters to Elizabeth from various people to whom d'Happart owed money. These materials are written in English.

Series II. Surinam, 1798-1802

Scope and Content Notes

D'Happart traveled to the Dutch colony of Surinam in South America in 1798, 1799 and 1801. He worked for the Rocheteau firm and the William & Read Co. Surinam's slave economy produced sugar and other raw goods. This series contains d'Happart's travel documents, papers related to his partnerships with Rocheteau and William & Read, as well as the state of his personal finances. Some of these documents are written in Dutch.

The collection also includes two bills of sale for slaves purchased by d'Happart. The first is for a thirteen-year-old slave purchased in New Hanover County, North Carolina on December 4, 1798, and the second for a thirty year old slave purchased in Maryland on February 19, 1799. It is unclear if these enslaved people were purchased for personal use, or for resale. Both bills of sale indicate that d'Happart is from Surinam.

Series III. General Business Correspondence, 1799-1812

Scope and Content Notes

This series represents correspondence from various clients, partners, and lenders to d'Happart and relate to his business interests in the United States. In an 1809 letter, Albert Gallatin replies to d'Happart's letter, notifying him that the Indian Department, to which he had written, had been transferred to the Secretary of War. Another notable exchange between d'Happart and Thomas Jefferson in 1812 concerns an unpaid debt between d'Happart and the United States Treasury. Jefferson notifies d'Happart that he has referred the matter to President Madison. The majority of these materials are in written English, though a few letters are written in French.

Series IV. Rocheteau Accounts, 1800-1808

Scope and Content Notes

The Rocheteau firm was one of d'Happart's clients during a trip to Surinam, his travels in France, and time in the United States. This series includes the accounting ledgers of the company, and related correspondence. These materials are written variously in French and English. Box 7 in this series contains oversized materials, including d'Happart's passport and business papers. Also included, are accounts of his life and adventures that were published as a broadside in the eighteenth century.

Series V. French business ventures, confiscation of the
Brig Betsy and debtors prison, 1804-1808

Scope and Content Notes

From 1804 to 1805, d'Happart made an extended trip to France during which he arranged an import business. While in France, he partnered with L. F. Babin in the purchase of a ship, the
Brig Betsy. Babin assisted d'Happart in reclaiming family property confiscated by the French revolutionary government. The
Brig Betsy was boarded by the British at Newfoundland while d'Happart was onboard, and its cargo was confiscated. In 1806, Babin accused d'Happart of owing him money, and d'Happart was arrested and bound in a Philadelphia debtor's prison from 1807 to 1808. These materials are in French and English.

Series VI. Personal Papers, 1800-1812

Scope and Content Notes

D'Happart's personal papers consist of family correspondence, papers, and documents relating to his imprisonment and divorce. The Thompson Family papers document the family of his wife, Elizabeth Thompson St. Leger d'Happart. The Thomas family papers include family correspondence, and business agreements going back to a 1768 agreement for the delivery of beef cattle to Fort Pitt.

Later correspondence between d'Happart and Elizabeth is characterized by antagonism over shared property and custody of their children, particularly their oldest son. It is unclear how public their marital conflicts were, but Elizabeth's petition for a divorce was granted by the governor of Pennsylvania in 1815. D'Happart contested the divorce, hoping that the governor would instead favor d'Happart's own competing divorce petition.

Folder

Thompson family papers, 1800-1801

6

Folder

Thompson family papers, 1800-1801

7

Folder

Thompson family papers, 1800-1801

8

Folder

Thompson family papers, undated

9

Folder

Thompson family papers, undated

10

Folder

Thompson family papers, undated

11

Folder

Personal Accounts, 1800

12

Folder

Personal Accounts, 1800

13

Folder

Maria Read to d'Happart, 1800-1812

14

Folder

Maria Read to d'Happart, 1800-1812

15

Folder

Maria Read to d'Happart, 1800-1812

16

Box

Folder

Elizabeth Thompson St. Leger d'Happart to d'Happart, 1803-1805

13

1

Folder

Elizabeth Thompson St. Leger d'Happart to d'Happart, 1803-1805

2

Folder

Elizabeth Thompson St. Leger d'Happart to d'Happart, 1803-1805

3

Folder

Elizabeth Thompson St. Leger d'Happart to d'Happart, 1803-1805

4

Folder

Henriette de St. Leger to d'Happart, 1805-1814

5

Folder

Henriette de St. Leger to d'Happart, 1805-1814

6

Folder

Henriette de St. Leger to d'Happart, 1805-1814

7

Folder

Henriette de St. Leger to d'Happart, 1805-1814

8

Folder

Henriette de St. Leger to d'Happart, 1805-1814

9

Folder

Divorce and Estrangement from Elizabeth Thompson St. Leger d'Happart, 1812-1815

10

Folder

Divorce and Estrangement from Elizabeth Thompson St. Leger d'Happart, 1812-1815

11

Folder

Divorce and Estrangement from Elizabeth Thompson St. Leger d'Happart, 1812-1815

Series VII. Transcription books

Scope and Content Notes

These bound transcription books contain handwritten copies of correspondence in English and French. They seem to be correspondence to and from d'Happart and his family. These books appear to be the work of a nineteenth century family member. Please note that the inclusive dates given for each transcription book represent the letters on the first and last page of that volume; the letters within each book are not in strict chronological order, so the dates are primarily for the identification of individual books. These transcription books are not comprehensive, and include family correspondence not contained in their original form elsewhere in this collection.

Series VIII. Published materials

Scope and Content Notes

These published materials were likely collected by d'Happart in the United States and France. They include literary magazines published in the United States in English and French, and two longer French language works.

Series IX. Calendar Cards

Scope and Content Notes

These index cards were created by a twentieth century researcher who used the Joseph d'Happart papers. Each card summarizes a document, and references the document by date. This collection of cards is not exhaustive; not all documents in the collection are represented by a card. The creator of the cards evidently did not speak French, supplying no summary of French language documents, instead simply identifying that they are written "in French."